Gold Coast budget 2019: Full details of council’s 2019-20 budget

More than $540 million will be spent on capital projects in the next year in a big-spending pre-election Gold Coast City Council Budget. There’s millions set aside for big projects, including a few surprises.

LESS than a dollar a week - That’s how much more Gold Coast ratepayers will be forking out for their council charges from July 1.

An average increase of just 1.68 per cent has been announced this morning, meaning they will pay an extra $49.70 a year.

Mayor Tom Tate today delivered his eighth budget continuing a run of low rate rises placing him in a strong position to contest his third poll in March next year.

Mayor Tom Tate in his budget speech said the rate rise was the second lowest across eight previous budgets and lowest for this term of council.

He said the Gold Coast was ‘the envy of the rest of Australia.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate with the council's budget documents. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“At 1.68 per cent we are doing our part in keeping cost of living pressures down for our residents, keeping rates low - around the CPI,” he said.

“This equates to less than a dollar a week for the average residential home.”

But Cr Tate said the council had not forgotten its responsibilities in delivering frontline services.

Beaches and waterways spending was up by nearly 90 per cent and safety and disaster management by up to 178 per cent.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impressions and stations between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads

Cr Tate said capital expenditure was $548 million, a third of the city’s expenditure.

“Record spending on roads and transport will see over $280 million targeted at congestion busting works,” he said.

“This Budget rightly prioritises City Transport as our largest capital expenditure area with record spending of over $159 million - a massive increase on last year.”

Artist impressions of Sundale bridge upgrade on the Gold Coast.

The focus of the Budget is record spend of $540 million on capital works to deliver much improved roads after months of lobbying from concerned councillors about the city’s gridlock.

The centrepiece is $34 million to add an extra lane to the Sundale Bridge at Southport and upgrade the Waterways Ave intersection to ease congestion as The Spit will be upgraded under the masterplan development.

Cr Tate delivered the Budget at a special Budget adoption meeting in the council chambers at Evandale starting at 10am.

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS + JABRA WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate with the council's budget documents. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“With just a 1.68 per cent increase for average residential owner-occupied homes, it’s another low rate rise. This equates to about $1 a week for the average home,” Councillor Tate said.

The Mayor said he was proud to also announce that this budget also delivered on paying down debt by a further $8 million and it was the eighth budget surplus in a row.

He said better roads, transport and safety were also key priorities.